The teams will be split into four pots based on their FIFA world ranking. Pot One will contain the seven highest-ranked sides plus tournament hosts Russia.

Pot Two will feature the next best teams, and so on and so forth for Pots Three and Four.

As it stands Germany, Brazil, Portugal, Argentina, Belgium, Poland and France will join Russia in Pot One. Australia is currently ranked 43rd in the world, leaving it in Pot Four.

The countries will be divided into eight groups of four from A to H with each side playing three times before the top two advance to the second round. Russia will be dropped into Group A as hosts.

FIFA limits each of the four-team groups to a maximum of two European teams. No two teams from any other continental confederation can be drawn together Potentially tough draws could group Brazil, Spain, Egypt and Serbia, and Germany with England, Costa Rica and Nigeria.

WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE SOCCEROOS?

Australia is still celebrating.

Firstly, Australia needs to find out whether Ange Postecoglou plans to be coaching the team in Russia.

Postecoglou says he'll end the guessing game over his World Cup availability by the end of the month after showdown talks with FFA chairman Steven Lowy and chief executive David Gallop.

The national team coach guided Australia to the 2018 World Cup finals with a 3-1 win over Honduras on Wednesday night.

On Thursday, he revealed a two-week timeline to confirm a decision on whether he leads the team to Russia.

"I'm determined to enjoy this and determined for everyone to enjoy it," Postecoglou said at a public event in Sydney's Martin Place on Thursday. "I understand the conjecture ... it's not about me trying to keep people in suspense.

"I'll have those discussions with David and Steven in the next two weeks and it will all be resolved."

Australia will also plan several warm-up matches to finetune its team.